By: Mary Jo,
on 8/25/2015
An anthology of short stories about video games, Press Start to Play is the brainchild of Daniel H. Wilson and John Joseph Adams. Whether you grew up playing River Raid, Tomb Raider, or Assassin's Creed, there’s something here for every generation of video game aficionado. Books mentioned in this post Press Start to Play Daniel [...]
By: Kim T.,
on 8/25/2015
Grab your spear, polish your shield, and go back about 4,000 years with the funny and irreverent Percy Jackson as he describes ancient Greek heroes in this highly entertaining and informative companion to Percy Jackson's Greek Gods. Fantastic Illustrations by Caldecott honoree John Rocco immerse you right in the middle of the adventure. Books mentioned [...]
By: Mary Jo,
on 8/25/2015
The final novel from one of the Northwest's most beloved writers, Ivan Doig's The Last Bus to Wisdom is the story of 11-year-old Donal Cameron and his travels across the country by Greyhound bus. Each of the cast of characters Donal meets during his journey have stories to tell and insights to offer. Doig does [...]
By: Tessa,
on 8/25/2015
These six substantial stories by the Pulitzer Prize–winning Adam Johnson range in topic from hurricane Katrina to North Korea; his convincing characters are trying to make the best of some very difficult circumstances. Wrenching, masterful, and occasionally grimly funny, Fortune Smiles is one of the strongest story collections of the year. Books mentioned in this [...]
By: Gigi Little,
on 8/25/2015
Broken! Lost in the couch! Stuck to a sock! Eaten by a dog! It's one tale of woe after another for Duncan's poor crayons, told through a series of colorful postcards, in this hilarious, inventive story of artful adventure with a sweet surprise at the end. Books mentioned in this post The Day the Crayons [...]
By: Kim T.,
on 8/25/2015
In this soon-to-be classic, Portland artist and author Emily Winfield Martin is back with her beautiful and charming vintage-inspired illustrations and a lovely message of unconditional love, acceptance, and wonder from parent to child. Books mentioned in this post The Wonderful Things You Will Be Emily Martin Sale Hardcover $12.59
By: Victoria,
on 8/25/2015
This space adventure throws one average kid into an intergalactic mishmash of weird aliens and weirder political schemes. Not only have the aliens been watching us, but they've been sneaking clues about their existence into our books, movies, and TV shows! Can Zeke use his sci-fi know-how to make friends, get the girl, and save [...]
By: Abby,
on 8/25/2015
With each new release, Penny's intricately plotted, wonderfully nuanced Chief Inspector Gamache novels just get better and better. In this 11th installment, the now-retired detective must confront the dark side of human nature once again as he grapples with a murder weighing heavily on his conscience. Books mentioned in this post The Nature of the [...]
By: Shawn D.,
on 8/25/2015
Some books are meant to be sipped and savored, others consumed whole. The Fall of Princes should be ingested in a single marathon session like one of the cocaine- and champagne-induced benders it so vividly depicts. Goolrick perfectly captures the arrogance and hubris of New York in the 1980s. His characters wallow in the Gatsbyesque [...]
By: The Dot,
on 8/25/2015
Asking for It is not a fun book, but it is an important one. Harding presents stories and statistics exposing America's rape culture, showing that our unwillingness as a society to take rape seriously drastically affects victims as well as perpetrators. Thankfully, she also suggests ways we can take action on both the individual and [...]
By: Richard C.,
on 8/25/2015
What if you spent the perfect day with the one you love, but he or she doesn’t remember it the next morning? What if you then found out that your companion that day wasn't, in fact, the same person? A haunting companion to Levithan's Everyday, this is Rhiannon's side of the story and her search [...]
By: Shawn D.,
on 8/12/2015
Murakami's first two novels never saw wide English-language distribution and have long been out of print. Now packaged together as Wind/Pinball, the books are finally available again and include a new introduction by the author. These remarkable stories serve as a coming of age, not just for their characters but for Murakami as well. Books [...]
By: Shawn D.,
on 8/12/2015
Street Poison is an illuminating portrait of the flawed and fascinating life of Iceberg Slim. Though not well known in literary circles, his books have had a profound effect on music, film, and inner-city culture. Gifford, his biographer, crafts a highly readable account of mid-20th-century African American history that feels both timely and relevant. Books [...]
By: Rhianna Walton,
on 8/12/2015
French's talent for gorgeously crafted psychological mysteries shines in The Secret Place, her latest Dublin Murder Squad installment. The narrative centers on a boy's murder in the gardens of an exclusive girls' school, but its real drama is in the fraught relationships between teenage girls and the awkward partnership of the detectives working the case. [...]
By: Ted,
on 8/12/2015
Hoffman's novels are storytelling magic. Set on an island in the Caribbean, this beautifully written and engrossing tale of family and forbidden love is an enchanting portrait of a headstrong woman who defies her community to follow her heart. Books mentioned in this post The Marriage of Opposites Alice Hoffman Sale Hardcover $19.59
By: Richard C.,
on 8/12/2015
In the first book of a wild new adventure series by local author Colleen Houck, Lilliana encounters a dashing Egyptian prince and they travel back in time to battle ancient gods and mythical creatures. This is a sure bet for a summer read! Books mentioned in this post Reawakened Colleen Houck Sale Hardcover $12.59
By: Mary Jo,
on 8/12/2015
Barry Yourgrau's apartment was filled with sentimental keepsakes from traveling and from his family. True to his style, he began researching clutter, doing interviews, and going to group meetings, but not actually removing anything from his apartment. Eventually he began to work his way through the boxes of his father's books stacked underneath the piano, [...]
By: Kathi,
on 7/29/2015
The Ghostman returns in this thrilling, page-turning, whip-smart read. Hobbs has nailed it again with a story of jewel theft gone wrong set in the glittering casinos and crumbling slums of the gambling city of Macao. Books mentioned in this post Vanishing Games Roger Hobbs Used Hardcover $17.95
By: Genevieve A.,
on 7/29/2015
In the third and final volume of the School of Good and Evil series, Sophie and Agatha find themselves separated, only to face each other once again when Evil threatens to take over. The thrilling, twisting conclusion to this epic tale is one not to be missed. Books mentioned in this post School for Good [...]
By: Tessa,
on 7/29/2015
Mohr is a favorite of several Powell's employees, and his fifth novel does not disappoint. All This Life explores how a mass suicide affects the people who witnessed it, and the ripple effects that follow one teenager's posting of the event online. Mohr is a beautiful, dark, and funny writer, and his examination of our [...]
By: Gigi Little,
on 7/29/2015
Who better to explore the world of our most beloved friends — pets — than the equally beloved Dr. Seuss? With his signature kooky creatures and whimsical verse, this new, never-before-seen book is a super-fun way to learn about the dilemma of making up your mind. Books mentioned in this post What Pet Should I [...]
By: Abby,
on 7/29/2015
If you love the written word, then you'll love its rich history. Palimpsest traces the advancement of writing from Mesopotamia all the way up to the digital age, offering much more than a dry account: we learn as much about the cultural implications as we do about the changes in format and medium. Battles is [...]
By: Jen C.,
on 7/29/2015
No matter how you feel about the writing of Charles Bukowski, there's no denying he's become a much-emulated and lauded author of mid- to late-century American literature and poetry. This volume of Bukowski's letters to friends and colleagues reveals his thoughts on the process of creation in an intimate and open way. Books mentioned in [...]
By: Tessa,
on 7/29/2015
Louise Penny continues her wonderful Chief Inspector Gamache series with this psychologically nuanced, elegantly plotted 10th installment. Gamache's neighbor Clara's husband has not come home as promised on the anniversary of their separation. As Gamache and Clara search for answers, The Long Way Home aptly showcases Penny's moral acuity and depth of feeling. Books mentioned [...]
By: Mary Jo,
on 7/29/2015
Before she became a pilot, Beryl Markham trained racehorses, married twice, and was nearly eaten by a lion. Circling the Sun brings Markham to life in sparkling color, giving readers a fresh perspective on the beloved author of West with the Night. McLain effortlessly transports us to 1920s Kenya. Books mentioned in this post Circling [...]
